William Clark "Sparky" Crossman

William Clark Crossman III passed away peacefully on January 11, 2026, on his farm, surrounded by his loved ones. Known to family and friends as Sparky, a nickname given to him by his mother who said he could never sit still and moved like a spark plug, he lived a life rooted in kindness, hard work, curiosity, and an unwavering love for his family.

Born on August 12, 1946, Sparky carried a strong sense of responsibility and compassion from an early age-qualities that defined him throughout his life. A farmer at heart, he spent his life working the land and took great pride in watching things grow, believing deeply in the quiet rewards of patience and dedication.

Beyond farming, Sparky was also a skilled pilot and an inventive thinker. Flying brought him a sense of freedom and perspective, while inventing allowed him to explore his natural curiosity and problem-solving mind. He was always building, improving, and imagining better ways to do things-never afraid to try something new.

The color green held a special place in Sparky's heart-especially John Deere green-which symbolized both his livelihood and his passion for the land.

Sparky also loved playing cards, especially the game of Hearts. Some of his most cherished moments were spent around the table with family, where laughter came easily and the language of the game became family shorthand-joking about "giving them the queen" or "shooting the moon." If you know Hearts, you understood. If you knew Sparky, you knew those games were never just about cards, but about time together.

Sparky was the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back. He was generous, caring, and always willing to help others, often putting their needs before his own. His steady presence, kind heart, and selflessness made him someone people could always depend on.

Sparky is survived by his loving wife, Laurie Gause Crossman; his four children: Cameron Clark Crossman, Alexander Clark Crossman (wife Maxine, children Maya and Noah), Ashley Crossman Lunsford (husband Thomas, child Emerson), and Katie Crossman Myer (husband Chris, children Natalie and Emily); and his brothers and sisters, Judy, George, Pamela, and Charles.

Sparky leaves behind a legacy of love, generosity, hard work, ingenuity, cherished family traditions, and an undeniable love of dessert-especially pie. In honor of that sweet devotion, it feels only right to acknowledge that Marie Callender earned a permanent place in his heart.

A celebration of life will be held in the spring, in parallel with corn being planted-his favorite crop. Details will be shared in the coming months, please check back for updates later.

He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ag in the classroom to honor Sparkys deep love of farming. Please make checks payable to "Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom" and send to the following address:

Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom

PO Box 27552

Richmond, VA 23261

Or by following this link: https://app.etapestry.com/onlineforms/VirginiaFoundationforAgricult_2/onlinegiving.html

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